Fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus and fiber ingredient reproduction method

ABSTRACT

A fiber separation processing apparatus includes: a second web formation unit that has a mesh belt on which a material containing fiber is piled and that forms a web on the mesh belt; a peeling and collecting unit that peels and collects the material adhering to the mesh belt; and a collection pipe that transports the material that is collected by the peeling and collecting unit to a later stage of the fiber separation unit.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus and a fiber ingredient reproduction method.

2. Related Art

In the related art, a cleaning device for cleaning a transport belt such as a dry-type or wet-type drying belt or felt belt, for example, for a paper machine is known (see JP-A-08-269885, for example). JP-A-08-269885 discloses a technology of providing a suctioning chamber that cooperate with cleaning nozzles such that the suctioning chamber can suction contamination and water in a mist form or remaining water removed by a nozzle ejection flow from the transport belt into the suction chamber and can discharge them.

For the device disclosed in JP-A-08-269885, a technology for collecting contamination adhering to the transport belt is disclosed while how to process the collected contamination is not disclosed.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus and a fiber ingredient reproduction method capable of peeling, collecting, and recycling a material that adheres to a belt portion.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus including: a web formation unit that has a belt portion on which a material containing fiber is piled and that forms a web on the belt portion; a peeling and collecting unit that peels and collects the material that adheres to the belt portion; and a transport unit that transports the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit to a former stage before the web formation unit.

With this configuration, it is possible to recycle the material and to reduce the amount of waste powder since the peeling and collecting unit collects the material adhering to the belt portion and the transport unit transports the material to the former stage before the web formation unit.

In the apparatus, the peeling and collecting unit may blow air from a rear side of the belt portion to collect the material from a front side of the belt portion.

In the apparatus, the transport unit may transport the material to a later stage of a fiber separation unit.

In the apparatus, the transport unit may transport the material to a former stage of the web formation unit.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fiber ingredient reproduction method including: piling a material containing fiber on a belt portion to form a web with a web formation unit; peeling and collecting the material that adheres to the belt portion with a peeling and collecting unit; and transporting the material that is collected by the peeling and collecting unit to a former stage before the web formation unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a sheet fabrication apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the sheet fabrication apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a peeling and collecting unit.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a sheet fabrication apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a piling unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are not intended to limit the content of the invention described in the claims. Also, all the configurations described below are not necessarily essential configuration requirements of the invention.

1. First Embodiment 1-1. Overall Configuration of Sheet Fabrication Apparatus

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a sheet fabrication apparatus 100.

The sheet fabrication apparatus 100 corresponds to the fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to the invention and executes reproduction processing of transforming an ingredient MA that contains fiber into fiber and reproducing new sheet S therefrom. The sheet fabrication apparatus 100 can fabricate a plurality of types of sheets S and it is also possible to apply functions such as adjustment of bonding strength and a white color degree of the sheets S, color, scent, flame retardancy, or the like in accordance with purposes by mixing an additive to the ingredient MA. In addition, the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 can adjust the density, the thickness, the size, and the shape of each sheet S. Representative examples of the sheets S include products in paper dish shapes and the like in addition to products in sheet shapes such as print sheets with defined sizes such as A4 or A3, cleaning sheets such as sheets for floor cleaning, sheets for oil contamination, and sheets for cleaning bathrooms.

The sheet fabrication apparatus 100 includes a supply unit 10, a rough grinding unit 12, a fiber separation unit 20, a sorting unit 40, a first web formation unit 45, a rotating body 49, a mixing unit 50, a piling unit 60, a second web formation unit 70, a transport unit 79, a formation unit 80, and a cutting unit 90. The rough grinding unit 12, the fiber separation unit 20, the sorting unit 40, and the first web formation unit 45 are included in a fiber separation processing unit 101 that obtains a material of the sheet S by micronizing the ingredient MA. Also, the rotating body 49, the mixing unit 50, the piling unit 60, the second web formation unit 70, the formation unit 80, and the cutting unit 90 are included in a fabrication unit 102 that processes a material obtained by the fiber separation processing unit 101 to fabricate the sheet S.

The supply unit 10 is an automatic inputting device that accommodates the ingredient MA and successively inputs the ingredient MA to the rough grinding unit 12. Any ingredient MA may be used as long as the ingredient MA contains fiber, and examples thereof include old paper, waste paper, and a pulp sheet.

The rough grinding unit 12 includes a rough grinding blade 14 that shreds the ingredient MA supplied by the supply unit 10 and shreds the ingredient MA in the air with the rough grinding blade 14 into small pieces with a size of several centimeters. The shape and the size of the small pieces are arbitrarily set. As the rough grinding unit 12, a shredder can be used, for example. The ingredient MA shredded by the rough grinding unit 12 is collected by a hopper 9 and is transported to the fiber separation unit 20 via a pipe 2.

The fiber separation unit 20 performs fiber separation on the roughly ground pieces shredded by the rough grinding unit 12. The fiber separation is working for loosening the ingredient MA in a state in which a plurality of fiber pieces are bonded into each fiber piece or each group of small number of fiber pieces. The ingredient MA can also be referred to as a target of fiber separation. An effect of separating substances such as resin particles, ink, a toner, and a bleeding inhibitor adhering to the ingredient MA from the fiber can be expected by the fiber separation unit 20 performing fiber separation on the ingredient MA. The article that has passed through the fiber separation unit 20 is referred to as fiber separated articles. The fiber separated articles mainly contain resin particles separated from the fiber when the fiber is loosened, coloring agents such as ink and toner, and additives such as bleeding inhibitor and paper strength enhancer in addition to the loosened fiber separated article fiber. The resin particles included in the fiber separated articles are resin mixed in order to bond a plurality of fiber pieces at the time of fabricating the ingredient MA. The shape of the fiber included in the fiber separated articles is a string shape or a ribbon shape. The fiber included in the fiber separated articles may be present in an independent state in which the fiber is not entangled with other fiber. Alternatively, the fiber may be entangled with other loosened fiber separated articles, may be brought into a massive shape, and may be present in a state in which the fiber forms so-called lump.

The fiber separation unit 20 performs dry-type fiber separation. The dry type indicates that processing such as fiber separation is performed in gas, such as in the atmospheric air (air) rather than in liquid. The fiber separation unit 20 can be formed using a fiber separation machine such as an impeller mill, for example. Specifically, the fiber separation unit 20 includes a rotating rotor (not illustrated) and a liner (not illustrated) located at an outer circumference of the rotor (not illustrated) and performs fiber separation with the roughly ground pieces between the rotor and the liner.

The fiber separation blower 25 is provided on the downstream side of the fiber separation unit 20 in the transport direction of the roughly ground pieces and the fiber separated articles. The roughly ground pieces are transported by an air flow from the rough grinding unit 12 to the fiber separation unit 20 by causing the fiber separation blower 25 to operate.

Also, the fiber separated articles are transferred from the fiber separation unit 20 to the sorting unit 40 via a pipe 3 using an air flow. The air flow that transports the fiber separated articles to the sorting unit 40 is generated by the fiber separation blower 25.

The sorting unit 40 sorts constituents contained in the fiber separated articles, on which fiber separation has been performed by the fiber separation unit 20, depending on the size of the fiber. The size of the fiber mainly indicates the length of the fiber. The sorting unit 40 has a drum unit 41 and a housing unit 43 that accommodates the drum unit 41. As the drum unit 41, a sieve is used, for example. Specifically, the drum unit 41 includes a net, a filter, a screen, or the like that has openings and functions as a sieve. Specifically, the drum unit 41 has a cylindrical shape that is driven and rotated by a motor, and at least a part of the circumferential surface is a net. The net is the drum unit 41 is formed with a metal net, an expanded metal obtained by extending a metal plate with slits, a punching metal, or the like. The fiber separated articles that have been introduced from the inlet port 42 into the drum unit 41 is divided into passing articles that pass through openings of the drum unit 41 and remaining articles that do not pass through the openings through the rotation of the drum unit 41. The articles that have passed through the openings include fiber or particles that are smaller than the openings and are classified as first sorted articles. The remaining articles include fiber, non-fiber-separated pieces, and lumps that are larger than the openings and are classified as second sorted articles. The first sorted articles are lowered inside the housing unit 43 toward the first web formation unit 45. The second sorted articles are transported from a discharge port 44 that communicates with the inside of the drum unit 41 to the fiber separation unit 20 via a pipe 8. The sorting unit 40 corresponds to a separation unit.

The sheet fabrication apparatus 100 may include a classification machine that sorts and separates first sorted articles and second sorted articles instead of the sorting unit 40. The classification machine is, for example, a cyclone classification machine, an elbow jet classification machine, or an Eddy classifier. The classification machine may have a configuration of separating smaller constituents or constituents with lower density from among constituents included in the first sorted articles. For example, it is possible to employ a configuration of separating and removing, using the classification machine, the resin particles, the coloring agent, and the additive, which have been peeled off from the fiber with the fiber separation unit 20, from the first sorted articles. In this case, the first sorted articles can be brought into a state in which minute particles of the resin particles, the coloring agent, the additive, and the like have been removed and can be transported to the first web formation unit 45 and the mixing unit 50.

The first web formation unit 45 includes a mesh belt 46, stretching rollers 47, and a suctioning unit 48. The mesh belt 46 is a metal belt with an endless shape and is stretched over a plurality of stretching rollers 47. The mesh belt 46 is circulated along a track formed with the stretching rollers 47. A part of the track of the mesh belt 46 is flat below the drum unit 41, and the mesh belt 46 forms a plat surface.

Multiple openings are formed in the mesh belt 46. Constituents that are larger than the openings of the mesh belt 46 from among the first sorted articles that are lowered from the drum unit 41 located above the mesh belt 46 are piled on the mesh belt 46. Also, constituents that are smaller than the openings of the mesh belt 46 from among the first sorted articles pass through the openings. The constituents that pass through the openings of the mesh belt 46 will be referred to as third sorted articles. The third sorted articles include fiber that is shorter than the openings of the mesh belt 46 in the fiber included in the fiber separated articles, resin particles that have been separated from the fiber with the fiber separation unit 20, and particles that include ink, toner, a bleeding inhibitor, and the like.

The suctioning unit 48 suctions air from the lower side of the mesh belt 46. The suctioning unit 48 is coupled to a first dust collecting unit 27 via a pipe 23. The first dust collecting unit 27 separates the third sorted articles from the air flow. The configuration of the first dust collecting unit 27 will be described later. A first capturing blower 28 is mounted on the downstream side of the first dust collecting unit 27, and the first capturing blower 28 suctions air from the first dust collecting unit 27 and discharges the air to the outside of the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 via a pipe 29.

Since the air is suctioned from the suctioning unit 48 through the first dust collecting unit 27 by the first capturing blower 28, the third sorted articles that have passed through the openings of the mesh belt 46 are captured by the first dust collecting unit 27. Since the first sorted articles lowered from the drum unit 41 is attracted to the mesh belt 46 by the air that the suctioning unit 48 suctions, there is an effect that piling is promoted.

The constituents piled on the mesh belt 46 have a web shape and form a first web W1. That is, the first web formation unit 45 forms the first web W1 from the first sorted articles sorted by the sorting unit 40.

The first web W1 contains fiber that is larger than the openings of the mesh belt 46 from among constituents included in the first sorted articles as main constituents and is formed into a softly swelled state containing a large amount of air. The first web W1 is transported to the rotating body 49 with movement of the mesh belt 46.

The rotating body 49 includes a base portion 49 a that is coupled to a drive unit (not illustrated) such as a motor and protruding portions 49 b that protrude from the base portion 49 a, and the protruding portions 49 b rotate about the base portion 49 a by the base portion 49 a rotating in a direction R. The protruding portions 49 b have a plate-like shape, for example. In the example in FIG. 1, four protruding portions 49 b are provided at the base portion 49 a at equal intervals.

The rotating body 49 is located at an end of a plat portion in the track of the mesh belt 46. Since the track of the mesh belt 46 is bent downward at the end, the mesh belt 46 is bent and moves downward. Therefore, the first web W1 that the mesh belt 46 transports protrudes from the mesh belt 46 and is brought into contact with the rotating body 49. The first web W1 is loosened by the protruding portions 49 b colliding against the first web W1 and becomes a small lump of fiber. This lump passes through a pipe 7 located below the rotating body 49 and is transported to the mixing unit 50. Since the first web W1 has a soft structure formed by the fiber piled on the mesh belt 46 as described above, the first web W1 is easily divided when the first web collides against the rotating body 49.

The location of the rotating body 49 is provided at a location at which the protruding portions 49 b can be brought into contact with the first web W1 and at which the protruding portions 49 b are not brought into contact with the mesh belt 46. The mutual distance of the protruding portions 49 b and the mesh belt 46 at the closest position is preferably equal to or greater than 0.05 mm and equal to or less than 0.5 mm, for example.

The mixing unit 50 mixes the first sorted articles with an additive. The mixing unit 50 has an additive supply unit 52 that supplies the additive, a pipe 54 that transports the first sorted articles and the additives, and a mixing blower 56.

An additive cartridge 52 a for accumulating the additive is set at the additive supply unit 52. The additive cartridge 52 a can be attached to and detached from the additive supply unit 52. The additive supply unit 52 includes an additive extracting unit 52 b that extracts the additive from the additive cartridge 52 a and an additive input unit 52 c that discharges the additive extracted by the additive extracting unit 52 b to the pipe 54. The additive extracting unit 52 b includes a feeder (not illustrated) that let the additive, which is fine powder or fine particles, out from the inside of the additive cartridge 52 a and extracts the additive from a part or entirety of additive cartridge 52 a. The additive extracted by the additive extracting unit 52 b is sent to the additive input unit 52 c. The additive input unit 52 c accommodates the additive that the additive extracting unit 52 b has extracted. The additive input unit 52 c includes a shutter (not illustrated), which can open and close, at a portion coupling to the pipe 54, and the additive that the additive extracting unit 52 b has extracted is sent to the pipe 54 by opening the shutter.

The additive supplied from the additive supply unit 52 contains resin (binder) for binding a plurality of fiber pieces. The resin contained in the additive melts and bonds the plurality of fiber pieces when the resin passes through the formation unit 80.

This resin supplied from the additive supply unit 52 is thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin, and examples thereof include AS resin, ABS resin, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, nylon, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and the like. The resin may be used alone or may be appropriately mixed and used.

The additive supplied from the additive supply unit 52 may include constituents other than resin for bonding fiber. For example, a coloring agent for coloring the fiber, an aggregation inhibitor for suppressing aggregation of fiber of aggregation of resin, a flame retardant for flame retardancy of the fiber, and the like may be included in accordance with the type of the sheet S to be fabricated. Also, the additive may be in a fiber form or in a powder form.

A mixing blower 56 generates an air flow in the pipe 54 that connects the pipe 7 and the piling unit 60. The first sorted articles transported from the pipe 7 to the pipe 54 and the additive supplied to the pipe 54 by the additive supply unit 52 are mixed when passing through the mixing blower 56. The mixing blower 56 can have a configuration including a motor (not illustrated), a vane (not illustrated) that is driven and rotated by the motor, and a case (not illustrated) that accommodates the vane therein, and in the configuration, the vane and the case may be coupled to each other. Also, the mixing blower 56 may include a mixer that mixes the first sorted articles and the additive in addition to the vane that generates an air flow. The mixture mixed by the mixing unit 50 is transported to the piling unit 60 by the air flow that the mixing blower 56 generates and is then introduced into an inlet port 62 of the piling unit 60.

The piling unit 60 loosens the fiber in the mixture and lowers the mixture to the second web formation unit 70 while dispersing the mixture in the air. In a case in which the additive supplied from the additive supply unit 52 is in a fiber shape, the fiber is also loosened at the piling unit 60 and is then lowered to the second web formation unit 70.

The piling unit 60 has a drum unit 61 and a housing unit 63 that accommodates the drum unit 61. The drum unit 61 is a cylindrical structural body that is formed similarly to the drum unit 41, for example, rotate using power of a motor (not illustrated) similarly to the drum unit 41, and functions as a sieve. The drum unit 61 has openings and lowers the mixture loosened by the rotation of the drum unit 61 from the opening.

The second web formation unit 70 is disposed below the drum unit 61. The second web formation unit 70 has a mesh belt 72, stretching rollers 74, and a suctioning mechanism 76.

The mesh belt 72 is formed with a metal belt with an endless shape that is similar to that of the mesh belt 46 and is stretched over the plurality of stretching roller 74. The mesh belt 72 is circulated along a track formed by the stretching rollers 74. A part of the track of the mesh belt 72 is flat below the drum unit 61, and the mesh belt 72 forms a flat surface. Also, multiple openings are formed in the mesh belt 72.

Constituents that are larger than the openings of the mesh belt 72 from among the mixture lowered from the drum unit 61 located above the mesh belt 72 are piled on the mesh belt 72. Also, constituents that are smaller than the openings of the mesh belt 72 pass through the openings.

The suctioning mechanism 76 includes a blower, which is not illustrated in the drawing, and suctions air from the opposite side of the drum unit 61 relative to the mesh belt 72. The constituents that have passed through the openings of the mesh belt 72 are suctioned by the suctioning mechanism 76. The air flow suctioned by the suctioning mechanism 76 has an effect of attracting the mixture lowered from the drum unit 61 to the mesh belt 72 and promoting piling. Also, it is also possible to expect an effect that the air flow of the suctioning mechanism 76 forms a downflow in a path through which the mixture drops from the drum unit 61 and prevents the fiber from being entangled during the dropping. The constituents piled on the mesh belt 72 have a web shape and forms a second web W2.

In the transport path of the mesh belt 72, a humidity adjusting unit 78 is provided on the downstream side of the piling unit 60. The humidity adjusting unit 78 is a mist-type humidifier that transforms water into a mist shape and supplies the water toward the mesh belt 72. The humidity adjusting unit 78 includes a tank that stores water and an ultrasonic oscillator that transforms the water into a mist shape, for example. Since the water content of the second web W2 is adjusted by the mist that the humidity adjusting unit 78 supplies, it is possible to expect an effect of suppressing adsorption or the like of the fiber to the mesh belt 72 due to static electricity.

The second web W2 is peeled off from the mesh belt 72 by the transport unit 79 and is transported to the formation unit 80. The transport unit 79 has a mesh belt 79 a, a roller 79 b, and a suctioning mechanism 79 c, for example. The suctioning mechanism 79 c includes a blower (not illustrated) and generates an upward air flow through the mesh belt 79 a using suctioning force of the blower. The second web W2 is separated from the mesh belt 72 and is adsorbed to the mesh belt 79 a by the air flow. The mesh belt 79 a is moved by rotation of the roller 79 b and transports the second web W2 to the formation unit 80.

The mesh belt 79 a can be formed with a metal belt with an endless shape that has openings similarly to the mesh belt 46 and the mesh belt 72.

A peeling and collecting unit 65 is provided at the second web formation unit 70. The peeling and collecting unit 65 is provided at a part of a path through which the mesh belt 72 is circulated. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the peeling and collecting unit 65 is arranged on the downstream side beyond a location at which the second web W2 drops off from the mesh belt 72 at the transport unit 79 and on the upstream side of the piling unit 60. The peeling and collecting unit 65 is preferably disposed at a location in the proximity of the piling unit 60.

The peeling and collecting unit 65 is a mechanism that peels and collects fiber, particles, and the like adhering to the mesh belt 72 from the mesh belt 72. The peeling and collecting unit 65 blows an air flow from the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72, for example, to peel off the fiber and the particles adhering to the surface of the mesh belt 72 in the embodiment. Details of the peeling and collecting unit 65 will be described later.

A collection pipe 66 is connected to the peeling and collecting unit 65.

The formation unit 80 bonds fiber derived from the first sorted articles included in the second web W2 with the resin included in the additive by applying heat to the second web W2.

The formation unit 80 includes a pressurizing unit 82 that pressurizes the second web W2 and a heating unit 84 that heats the second web W2 pressurized by the pressurizing unit 82. The pressurizing unit 82 is formed with a pair of calendar rollers 85 and 85. The pressurizing unit 82 is coupled to a press mechanism (not illustrated) tat hydraulically applies nipping pressure to the calendar rollers 85 and 85 and a drive unit (not illustrated) such as motor that rotates the calendar rollers 85 and 85 toward the heating unit 84. The pressurizing unit 82 pressurizes the second web W2 with a predetermined nipping pressure with the calendar rollers 85 and 85 and transports the second web W2 toward the heating unit 84. The heating unit 84 includes a pair of heating rollers 86 and 86. The heating unit 84 includes a heater (not illustrated) that heats the circumferential surface of the heating roller 86 to a predetermined temperature and a drive unit (not illustrated) such as motor that rotates heating rollers 86 and 86 toward the cutting unit 90. The heating unit 84 pinches the second web W2, applies heat to the second web W2 with density increased by the pressurizing unit 82, and transports the second web W2 to the cutting unit 90. The second web W2 is heated to a temperature that is higher than a glass transition point of the resin included in the second web W2 at the heating unit 84 and becomes the sheet S.

The cutting unit 90 cuts the sheet S formed by the formation unit 80. The cutting unit 90 has a first cutting unit 92 that cuts the sheet S in a direction that intersects the transport direction of the sheet S represented by the reference numeral F in the drawing and a second cutting unit 94 that cuts the sheet S in a direction parallel to the transport direction F. The cutting unit 90 cuts the length and the width of the sheet S into predetermined sizes and forms a single strip of sheet S. The sheet S cut by the cutting unit 90 is accommodated in a discharge unit 96. The discharge unit 96 includes a tray or a stacker that accommodates the fabricated sheet therein, and the sheet S discharged to the tray can be picked up and used by the user.

The respective parts of the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 forms the fiber separation processing unit 101 and the fabrication unit 102. The fiber separation processing unit 101 includes at least the fiber separation unit 20 and may include the sorting unit 40 and the first web formation unit 45. The fiber separation processing unit 101 fabricates the fiber separated articles from the ingredient MA or the first web W1 by transforming the fiber separated articles into a web form. It is possible not only to transport the product of the fiber separation processing unit 101 to the mixing unit 50 via the rotating body 49 but also to pick up the product from the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 and store the product without transferring the product to the rotating body 49. Also, the product may be sealed in a predetermined package into a form in which the product can be transported and handled.

The fabrication unit 102 is a functional unit that reproduces the product fabricated by the fiber separation processing unit 101 into the sheet S and corresponds to the working unit. The fabrication unit 102 includes the mixing unit 50, the piling unit 60, the second web formation unit 70, the transport unit 79, the formation unit 80, and the cutting unit 90 and may include the rotating body 49. In addition, the fabrication unit 102 may include the additive supply unit 52.

In the sheet fabrication apparatus 100, the fiber separation processing unit 101 and the fabrication unit 102 may be integrally formed or may be formed as separate bodies. In this case, the fiber separation processing unit 101 corresponds to the fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to the invention. The fabrication unit 102 corresponds to the sheet formation unit that forms the fiber separated articles into the sheet shape. It is possible to state that both these units correspond to the working unit.

1-2. Configuration of Peeling and Collecting Unit

Next, the peeling and collecting unit 65 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an outline of the sheet fabrication apparatus 100. FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram of the peeling and collecting unit 65.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an example of a case in which the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is transported to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20 will be described as an example in which the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is transported to a former stage before the second web formation unit 70 in the embodiment. That is, the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is returned between the fiber separation unit 20 and the fiber separation blower 25 disposed on the downstream side of the fiber separation unit 20 via the collection pipe 66 according to the configuration.

Hereinafter, the peeling and collecting unit 65 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the peeling and collecting unit 65 is mounted on the upstream side of the mesh belt 72 beyond the piling unit 60 in the embodiment. The peeling and collecting unit 65 includes a blowing chamber 110 disposed on the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72. The blowing chamber 110 is formed into a long box shape extending in the width direction of the mesh belt 72, and a blowing unit 111 that introduces an air flow into the blowing chamber 110 is coupled to one end of the blowing chamber 110. A discharge opening 112 is formed in the blowing chamber 110 such that the discharge opening 112 faces the rear surface of the mesh belt 72, and the air flow from the blowing unit 111 is discharged from the discharge opening 112 to the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72.

The peeling and collecting unit 65 includes a suctioning chamber 120 disposed on the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72. The suctioning chamber 120 has substantially the same width dimension as that of the blowing chamber 110, and the suctioning unit 121 that suctions air from the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72 is coupled to substantially the center of the lower surface of the suctioning chamber 120 in the width direction. A suctioning opening 122 is formed in the suctioning chamber 120 such that the suctioning opening 122 faces the piling surface of the mesh belt 72. The suctioning opening 122 is formed at a location corresponding to the discharge opening 112 of the blowing chamber 110.

A blowing-side guide member 113 and a suctioning-side guide member 123 that guides the mesh belt 72 are provided in the proximity of the blowing chamber 110 and in the proximity of the suctioning chamber 120. The blowing-side guide member 113 and the suctioning-side guide member 123 are disposed such that the blowing-side guide member 113 and the suctioning-side guide member face one another with the mesh belt 72 interposed therebetween, and the respective guide surfaces (facing surfaces) are disposed such that the discharge opening 112 of the blowing chamber 110 and the suctioning opening 122 of the suctioning chamber 120 are in substantially the same surface. Also, openings 114 and 124 that substantially coincide with the discharge opening 112 and the suctioning opening 122 are provided in the facing surfaces of the blowing-side guide member 113 and the suctioning-side guide member 123.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first sealing member 130 that is brought into contact with the rear surface of the mesh belt 72 is provided in the blowing-side guide member 113. A second sealing member 131 that is brought into contact with the piking surface of the mesh belt 72 is provided in the suctioning-side guide member 123. The first sealing member 130 and the second sealing member 131 are formed with a fiber material such as moquette and an elastic material that supports the moquette, for example, and are provided such that the moquette is pressurized against the guide members that face one another with the mesh belt 72 interposed therebetween. In this manner, sealing between the surroundings of the discharge opening 112 of the blowing chamber 110 and the mesh belt 72 and between the surroundings of the suctioning opening 122 of the suctioning chamber 120 and the mesh belt 72 is established.

In this manner, a humidity environment in the surroundings of the suctioning mechanism is not changed since the first sealing member 130 and the second sealing member 131 seal between the blowing chamber 110 and the mesh belt 72 and between the suctioning chamber 120 and the mesh belt 72.

The collection pipe 66 is connected to the suctioning unit 121. In the embodiment, the collection pipe 66 is connected to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20, that is, between the fiber separation unit 20 and the fiber separation blower 25 disposed on the downstream side of the fiber separation unit 20.

Next, operations (fiber ingredient reproduction method) of the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 using the peeling and collecting unit 65 according to the embodiment will be described.

Since the collection pipe 66 is connected between the fiber separation unit 20 and the fiber separation blower 25, suctioning of the air from the collection pipe 66 is performed through operations of the fiber separation blower 25. In this manner, an air flow that sequentially flows through the blowing unit 111, the blowing chamber 110, the discharge opening 112, the suctioning opening 122, the suctioning chamber 120, and the suctioning unit 121 is generated.

If the mesh belt 72 is caused to operate in this state, the air flow fed to the suctioning chamber 120 is blow from the discharge opening 112 to the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72. The material (mixture) adhering to the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72 is peeled by the air flow blown against the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72. The peeled material and the air flow that has passed through the mesh belt 72 are fed to the suctioning chamber 120 and are fed to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20 via the suctioning unit 121 and the collection pipe 66.

It is possible to reliably peel the material remaining on the mesh belt 72 and to collect the remaining material at the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20 by driving the fiber separation blower 25 to generate the air flow directed from the rear surface side of the mesh belt 72 to the piling surface side in this manner.

In this case, it is known that the temperature of the material fed from the fiber separation unit 20 is raised to a temperature of equal to or greater than 60° C. If the temperature of the material is raised, the temperature of the air in the surroundings thereof is also raised. If the air temperature is raised, the moisture amount contained in the air increases.

Therefore, relative humidity is lower in a case of a high air temperature than in a case of a low air temperature even if the same water content is held.

If the material is fed to the sorting unit 40 in this state, the material adheres to the drum unit 41 due to electrification.

According to the embodiment, it is possible to lower the temperature of the material fed from the fiber separation unit 20 and the temperature of the air by returning the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20. In this manner, it is possible to increase the relative humidity, to prevent the material from adhering to the drum unit 41 of the sorting unit 40 due to electrification, and to realize stable supply of the material.

In addition, it is possible to extend the lifetime of the mesh belt 72 by peeling the material adhering to the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72. Further, it is possible to recycle the material and to reduce the amount of waste powder by supplying the collected material to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20.

As described above, the mesh belt 72 (belt portion) on which the material containing fiber is piled is provided, and the second web formation unit 70 (web formation unit) that forms a web on the mesh belt 72 is provided in the embodiment. Also, the peeling and collecting unit 65 that peels and collects the material adhering to the mesh belt 72 and the collection pipe 66 (transport unit) that transports the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20 are provided.

In this manner, it is possible to reduce the temperature of the material fed from the fiber separation unit 20 and the temperature of the air by returning the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20. In this manner, it is possible to increase the relative humidity, to prevent the material from adhering to the drum unit 41 of the sorting unit 40 due to electrification, and to realize stable supply of the material. Also, it is possible to extend the lifetime of the mesh belt 72 by peeling the material adhering to the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72. Further, it is possible to recycle the material and to reduce the amount of waste powder by supplying the collected material to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20.

Also, the peeling and collecting unit 65 blows the air from the rear side of the mesh belt 72 (belt portion) and collects the material from the front side of the mesh belt 72 in the embodiment.

In this manner, it is possible to efficiently peel and collect the material adhering to the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals will be given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment and the description will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an outline of the sheet fabrication apparatus 100. FIG. 5 is an outline diagram of the piling unit 60 and the second web formation unit 70.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, an example of a case in which the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is transported to the former stage of the piling unit 60 will be described as an example in which the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is transported to the former stage before the second web formation unit 70 in the embodiment. That is, the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is returned between the piling unit 60 and the mixing blower 56 via the collection pipe 66 according to the configuration.

Hereinafter, the web formation unit (the piling unit 60 and the second web formation unit 70) will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the drum unit 61 of the piling unit 60 has a cylindrical hollow shape and can rotate about a rotation axis in the direction R.

A plurality of openings 151 is formed in an outer circumferential surface 150 of the drum unit 61, and the fiber that has passed through the openings 151 is lowered with the rotation of the drum unit 61, is laminated on the mesh belt 72, and then forms the web W2. Here, the size, the shape, and the number of the openings 151 formed in the drum unit 61 are not particularly limited.

The housing unit 152 covers at least a portion at which the openings 151 are formed in the drum unit 61 (the outer circumferential surface 150 in which the openings 151 are formed) via an air gap. The housing unit 152 has a right side wall 153 and a left side wall 154 that cover both ends, and the outer circumferential surface 150, the right side wall 153, and the left side wall 154 cover the drum unit 61.

Meanwhile, air including the material is supplied to the piling unit 60 through the pipe 54 (material supply pipe). The pipe 54 has a configuration in which a single main pipe 160 connected to the mixing blower 56 is branched to branching pipes 162 and 163 at a branching portion 161.

Air feeding pipes 165 and 166 that supplies the air including the material to the inside of the drum unit 61 are connected to the right side wall 153 and the left side wall 154 of the housing unit 152, respectively. The air feeding pipe 165 penetrates through the right side wall 153 and communicates with the inside of the drum unit 61. That is, the material supply port 167 that opens to an inner space of the drum unit 61 is provided inside the housing unit 152. Similarly, the air feeding pipe 166 penetrates through the left side wall 154 and communicates with the inside of the drum unit 61. A material supply port 168 that opens to the inner space of the drum unit 61 is provided in the left side wall 154.

The branching pipe 162 is connected to the air feeding pipe 165, and the branching pipe 163 is connected to the air feeding pipe 166.

In addition, the mesh belt 72 is arranged below the housing unit 152. The mesh belt 72 forms the lower surface of the housing unit 152, passes through an opening 170 formed at a lower portion of the housing unit 152, and protrudes to the outside of the housing unit 152.

The other configurations are similar to those in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the mixing blower 56 feeds a transport air flow M1 that is air including the material through the main pipe 160.

At this time, since the collection pipe 66 is connected to the later stage of the mixing blower 56 in the embodiment, the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit 65 is supplied to the mixture (material) of the fiber and the additive (resin) at the mixing unit.

Then, the transport air flow M1 is branched to a transport air flow M2 flowing through the branching pipe 162 and a transport air flow M3 flowing through the branching pipe 163 at the branching portion 161.

The transport air flow M2 passes from the branching pipe 162 through the air feeding pipe 165 and flows into the drum unit 61. Also, the transport air flow M3 passes from the branching pipe 163 through the air feeding pipe 166 and flows into the drum unit 61. The material included in the transport air flows M2 and M3 flows into the drum unit 61 in a state in which the material is humidified by humidifying air supplied from the humidifying unit 206.

The material lowered from the drum unit 61 is piled on the piling surface that is the upper surface of the mesh belt 72 arranged below the housing unit 152.

As described above, the collection pipe 66 (transport unit) that collects the material adhering to the mesh belt 72 with the peeling and collecting unit 65 and transports the material to the former stage of the piling unit 60 and the second web formation unit 70 (web formation unit) is provided in the embodiment.

In this manner, it is possible to extend the lifetime of the mesh belt 72 by peeling the material adhering to the piling surface side of the mesh belt 72. Further, it is possible to recycle the material and to reduce the amount of waste powder by supplying the collected material to the later stage of the fiber separation unit 20.

3. Other Embodiments

The aforementioned respective embodiments are just specific modes of performing the invention described in the claims and are not intended to limit the invention, and the invention can be performed in various modes as described below, for example, without departing from the gist thereof.

The sheet fabrication apparatuses 100 is not limited to the sheet S and may have configurations of fabricating not only the sheets S but also products in a board form or a web form that are formed by a hard sheet or laminated sheets. The products are not limited to paper and may be a non-woven cloth. Characteristics of the sheets S are not particularly limited, and the sheet may be paper that can be used as recording paper for the purpose of writing or printing (for example, so-called PPC paper) or may be wall paper, wrapping paper, color paper, drawing paper, Kent paper, or the like. In a case in which the sheet S is a non-woven cloth, the sheet S may be a fiber board, tissue paper, kitchen paper, a cleaner, a filter, a liquid absorbing material, a sound absorbing member, a buffer material, a mat, or the like as well as a typical non-woven cloth.

In addition, the sheet fabrication apparatus 100 according to the embodiment has been described above as a dry-type sheet fabrication apparatus 100 that obtains the material by performing fiber separation on the ingredient in the air and fabricates the sheet S using the material and the resin. Application targets of the invention is not limited thereto, and the invention can also be applied to a so-called wet-type sheet fabrication apparatus that dissolves and floats an ingredient containing fiber in a solvent such as water and working the ingredient into a sheet. The invention can also be applied to an electrostatic-type sheet fabrication apparatus that adsorbs a material containing fiber, on which fiber separation has been performed in the air, to the surface of a drum using static electricity and works the ingredient adsorbed to the drum into a sheet.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No: 2018-32870, filed Feb. 27, 2018 is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus comprising: a web formation unit that has a belt portion on which a material containing fiber is piled and that forms a web on the belt portion; a peeling and collecting unit that peels and collects the material that adheres to the belt portion; and a transport unit that transports the material collected by the peeling and collecting unit to a former stage before the web formation unit.
 2. The fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peeling and collecting unit blows air from a rear side of the belt portion to collect the material from a front side of the belt portion.
 3. The fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit transports the material to a later stage of a fiber separation unit.
 4. The fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit transports the material to the former stage of the web formation unit.
 5. The fiber ingredient reproduction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport unit transports the material to a former stage of the web formation unit.
 6. A fiber ingredient reproduction method comprising: piling a material containing fiber on a belt portion to form a web with the web formation unit; peeling and collecting the material that adheres to the belt portion with a peeling and collecting unit; and transporting the material that is collected by the peeling and collecting unit to a former stage before the web formation unit. 